"Wolves in Sheep's Clothing" Matthew 7:15-16"
The Scripture-
Matthew 7:15-16 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
You have likely heard the phrase “wolves in sheep’s clothing” throughout your life. It is a term that creates an image of an innocent animal, but in reality, it is an animal capable of causing great harm.
To successfully evade the enemy’s traps, Christians must first gain a thorough understanding of the traits and characteristics of a wolf. In the seventh chapter of Matthew, Jesus employed an illustration to assist believers in identifying and resisting potential attacks.
Beware-
In this teaching, Jesus used the term “Beware,” Which means to be on guard against.
The phrase was employed to alert us to individuals whose motives may be hidden and therefore require us to proceed with care and attention.
These people you encounter are individuals who claim to be Christians but do not follow the teachings of God’s Word. If you feel uneasy or uncertain about their words or actions, listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit within you, as it may be a sign that something is amiss.
False Prophets-
According to Jesus, there are people who disguise themselves as sheep but are actually wolves and false prophets. These individuals would claim to have received divine inspiration and speak on behalf of divine prophecies, but in reality, they are spreading falsehood and deceit. Awareness of such individuals and their tactics is essential to avoid being misled and deceived.
Why Sheep and Ravenous Wolves -
In the book of Psalms, we are considered Jesus’ sheep. One well-known Psalms
Psalms 23:1-3
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Also,
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
So you can see the reference to Christians as sheep, but what did Jesus mean by Ravenous Wolves?
In Matthew 7:15, the word Wolves, in Greek, refers to a cruel, greedy destructive man. When you add the word Ravenous in Greek, it means- A robber or extortioner.
So when you look at these false prophets / ravenous wolves, it is easy to see their desire is for your destruction or to take what you have of value.
How to Recognize-
Jesus shares with us in vs. 16 that we would know them by their “fruits.” Now this is not a new way of recognizing a person’s spiritual state. We see in Galatians the 5th chapter the works of the flesh versus the fruits of the spirit, quickly identifying the state of the heart.
The Greek word for fruit is defined as metaphorically men’s deeds as exponents of their hearts. For example, actions speak louder than words.
In essence, it is only through being a child of God and being filled with the Holy Spirit that one can genuinely emulate the life of Christ, just as only a grapevine can produce grapes. So you have the ability to look at one’s actions and tell their spiritual state.
Closing-
Jesus wants you to know that Satan has people planted along your path to try and destroy your Christian walk. These traps come in many different sizes and people. But I encourage you to stay alert and remember-
1st Peter 5:8 ESV
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1st John 4:4 ESV
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
God is always in control.
Prayer-
Dear Jesus, I want to express my gratitude for your unwavering love for me. I appreciate your guidance in warning me about false prophets who try to lead me astray with their erroneous teachings and prophetic words that are not from you. Please help me gain the wisdom to differentiate between truth and falsehood, and may the Holy Spirit fill me with the gift of discernment to understand people’s intentions. Let me always be a source of truth for those around me. I pray this in your holy name, Jesus. Amen.
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